Endof Covid-19 isolation

An SNP MSP has welcomed the change in covid guidance and testing from tomorrow.

From May 1, public health advice will change to a ‘stay at home’ message replacing self-isolation for people who have symptoms or have tested positive for Covid-19.

People who have symptoms of Covid-19 and who have a fever or are too unwell to carry out normal activities will be asked to stay at home and will no longer be advised to take a PCR test.

Children and young people aged 18 and under with mild symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, or slight cough, who are otherwise well, do not need to stay at home and can continue to attend school or nursery.

Natalie Don MSP welcomed the new guidance.

She said: “Scotland’s Test and Protect programme has been one of the key interventions in our response to Covid-19, the success of which has been due, in no small part, to the remarkable staff and volunteers working in Test and Protect - my sincere thanks go to them.

“I would also like to thank the Scottish public for their commitment and willingness to engage with Test and Protect when it was required of them and helping to protect their fellow citizens.”

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf added: “As we are now seeing a steady reduction in new covid cases, the NHS will no longer remain on emergency footing after Saturday, April 30. But we must continue with a measured approach to support the recovery and renewal of our NHS.

“This will require balancing capacity of the NHS and the wellbeing of the workforce to respond to increasing demands for urgent care while reducing the backlog of planned care.”

Testing for the general population ends today.

However, testing will remain available to certain groups in order to protect high risk settings, support clinical care and for surveillance purposes including health and social care workers, care home and hospital visitors, patients groups eligible for treatment, hospital patients, unpaid carers and people in prison.